37" x 12.5" Toyo Open Country R/T Trail tires - hydroplaning?

[tom.mary.glad]

I've had these for a bit and really like them. But today during heavy rain - lots of standing water - I found that they hydroplane quite easily. The Gladiator gets pulled harshly into the puddle/gutter.

Anyone else experience this? I'm a newbie and these are my first oversized tires. Is it particular to these Toyos? Or more a function of the width - do bigger tires tend to float/hydroplane?

Pic for attention.

Sponsored

 

[Splenda]

I've always run Toyos and don't think they hydroplane any worse than any other brand of tire. I currently run Toyo Open Country M/T in size 37x13.5x17 and have not had any issues. I run 39 PSI, which does make them crown a little in the center on a 9.5" wide wheel, but I find the stiffer tire handles better.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

I've always run Toyos and don't think they hydroplane any worse than any other brand of tire. I currently run Toyo Open Country M/T in size 37x13.5x17 and have not had any issues. I run 39 PSI, which does make them crown a little in the center on a 9.5" wide wheel, but I find the stiffer tire handles better.

Interesting. I run about 30 psi. They pulled so hard into the water it kinda freaked me out.

 

[Splenda]

Interesting. I run about 30 psi. They pulled so hard into the water it kinda freaked me out.

Have you checked the alignment? I'm not saying that alignment can cause this, but that's the only thing I can think of.

 

[Snapper692]

When I had my 37's with the stock stabilizer, it didn't take much for me to get pulled hard left or right when hitting water. The first time it happened, I had to change my drawers when I got home. After upgrading to a better stabilizer, it greatly lowered the pucker factor!! Also, this was on my JLU, but Im guessing the same would apply here!

 

[Splenda]

When I had my 37's with the stock stabilizer, it didn't take much for me to get pulled hard left or right when hitting water. The first time it happened, I had to change my drawers when I got home. After upgrading to a better stabilizer, it greatly lowered the pucker factor!! Also, this was on my JLU, but Im guessing the same would apply here!

I wonder if the fact that I changed out all of my control arms with control arms that have Johnny Joints made the difference, but I have never felt my steering wheel pulled by the tires at all.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

When I had my 37's with the stock stabilizer, it didn't take much for me to get pulled hard left or right when hitting water. The first time it happened, I had to change my drawers when I got home. After upgrading to a better stabilizer, it greatly lowered the pucker factor!! Also, this was on my JLU, but Im guessing the same would apply here!

Thanks! This is worth a try. Now I need to do some research.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

I've had these for a bit and really like them. But today during heavy rain - lots of standing water - I found that they hydroplane quite easily. The Gladiator gets pulled harshly into the puddle/gutter.

Anyone else experience this? I'm a newbie and these are my first oversized tires. Is it particular to these Toyos? Or more a function of the width - do bigger tires tend to float/hydroplane?

Pic for attention.

I’ve been saying this for a while now. The widest tires that should be used more than 50% on road are 255/80-17, mostly AT or HT tread. Or even 245!

 

[Rahkmalla]

Welcome to the world of wide tires. You're spreading the same load over a larger surface area (less weight per cubic inch) and because the tire is wider, the amount of water that requires displacement increases. Thus: hydroplaning.

 

[Splenda]

Welcome to the world of wide tires. You're spreading the same load over a larger surface area (less weight per cubic inch) and because the tire is wider, the amount of water that requires displacement increases. Thus: hydroplaning.

This is why I run a higher pressure than most. This makes the contact patch smaller, but it also makes the sidewall stiffer and decreases hydroplaning for me.

 

[JTGuy]

Big wide tires are like a big wide ski.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

Welcome to the world of wide tires. You're spreading the same load over a larger surface area (less weight per cubic inch) and because the tire is wider, the amount of water that requires displacement increases. Thus: hydroplaning.

So, do you disagree that an upgraded steering stabilizer might help?

 

[Rahkmalla]

So, do you disagree that an upgraded steering stabilizer might help?

Absolutely. A steering stablizer is a shock, and a shock's purpose is to damper movement. In this case, it dampers the left to right pull on the tires and therefore the wheel.

Your steering wheel turns a little less... but that doesn't stop the truck from being pulled. If anything, your tires turn because they are following the path of least resistance. If you present an obstruction to the tires following the path of least resistance, you're just asking them to hydroplane even more.

 

[Rahkmalla]

This is why I run a higher pressure than most. This makes the contact patch smaller, but it also makes the sidewall stiffer and decreases hydroplaning for me.

Not really sure I follow the logic here. Anyone can overinflate any tire to reduce the contact patch, but all you're doing it making the tire wear unevenly. If you want skinny tires, maybe just buy skinny tires. Don't but wide tires and overinflate them.

 

[Splenda]

Not really sure I follow the logic here. Anyone can overinflate any tire to reduce the contact patch, but all you're doing it making the tire wear unevenly. If you want skinny tires, maybe just buy skinny tires. Don't but wide tires and overinflate them.

They're not overinflated. I run 39 psi. Anyone who runs an e rated tire lower than that is actually running them underinflated. My wheels have a maximum pressure of 65 psi, so technically I would have to run above 65 psi for them to be "overinflated". They appear to be wearing evenly, and I have not hydroplaned yet.

Sponsored